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Council's climate action

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Learn how we deliver a low-carbon city. Find tips to lower your carbon footprint at home.

Council officers planting trees for shade in Council parkland near the Brisbane CBD.

Creating a low-carbon Brisbane 

Council actively reduces its carbon emissions, also known as greenhouse gas emissions, to help create a more sustainable future.

We’re also committed to providing opportunities for residents to reduce their own carbon footprint.

We do this by: 

  • continuously improving our operations and ensuring we minimise carbon emissions
  • delivering initiatives and strategies to create a sustainable and clean city, such as Brisbane. Clean, Green, Sustainable
  • supporting businesses and communities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Lowering our carbon footprint 

We maintain low-carbon practices to help keep Brisbane clean, green and sustainable.

Using energy-efficient lighting

Brisbane street lighting is more energy-efficient thanks to LED lights in Council streetlights and traffic signals.

Installing solar power

Onsite solar power systems on our infrastructure help us generate renewable energy and save on electricity costs.

Purchasing renewable energy

We use our purchasing power to support the Australian renewable energy industry.

Reducing the impact of public transport

Our public transport services help to reduce traffic and congestion. We’re also transitioning to zero emissions public transport, starting with Brisbane Metro and City Loop. 

Maintaining a low-emissions fleet

We prioritise using electric and lower emission vehicles that have alternate fuel sources to service our community. 

Managing waste emissions

Every year, we capture more than 75% of the gas produced at our operating landfill at Rochedale. We also capture landfill gas at 5 closed landfills to either generate electricity or destroy its methane component.

Diverting garden and food waste

Our green waste recycling service and community composting hubs divert garden and food waste for alternative treatment and use as compost to reduce emissions.  

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Water and air quality

Environmental protection

Environmental offsets and restoration program

Our low-carbon commitment 

We’re taking real and practical action to lower our operational carbon footprint.  

We’ve set targets to reduce our carbon emissions by at least 30% by 2031-32 from 2016-17 levels and achieve net zero by 2050.  

In 2024-25, Council switched from purchasing offsets to investing in more direct carbon emission reductions in line with our targets. This means 100% of the investment in emission reduction is spent locally in Brisbane and provides direct benefit to residents.

What you can do  

Making sustainable choices at home and reducing your carbon footprint will help make Brisbane a low-carbon city.

It can also save money at the same time.

Create a more sustainable home

Building a more sustainable future starts at home. You can:

  • recycle your cans, glass and other household waste
  • avoid fast fashion and consider thrifted, vintage or second-hand clothing
  • ditch single-use plastic and use reusable utensils and cutlery, such as metal straws and coffee cups 
  • keep your house well ventilated, use non-toxic products and maintain air-purifying plants
  • compost your garden clippings, food scraps and other green waste
  • safely dispose of your textile, electronic and hazardous waste
  • shade your house by planting trees and vegetation to cool your home naturally and reduce your need for air conditioning
  • plant native species in your backyard to help grow our city's urban forest and support local wildlife
  • create a more sustainable garden by increasing water efficiency and avoiding pesticides.

Reduce your household emissions 

Small changes can make a big difference to your household costs, energy use and fuel consumption.

To lower your carbon emissions at home:

  • install a rooftop solar power system  
  • leave the car at home and take public transport, cycle or walk instead
  • replace your electric hot water system with a solar system or heat pump
  • use light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs
  • insulate your house and fill any gaps in floors, windows, walls and ceilings to reduce the cost of heating or cooling your home
  • turn off any additional fridges you aren’t using
  • switch off lights and appliances when not in use, wash your clothes in cold water and keep your showers to 4 minutes
  • hang your laundry on the line instead of using the dryer
  • close curtains or blinds during the day in summer to keep rooms cool and reduce the cost of heating or cooling your home
  • use cleaner energy sources such as E10 fuel, hybrid or electric vehicles and GreenPower.

Building climate resilience

Council is working hard to ensure Brisbane is a climate-resilient city.

We're doing this through:

Brisbane. Clean, Green, Sustainable outlines specific actions Council is taking to ensure the resilience of the community, built form and infrastructure, and the environment.

Frequently asked questions

To help make your business more sustainable and energy efficient, you can:

  • monitor and review your electricity and water use
  • opt for energy-efficient and water-efficient appliances, fittings and fixtures
  • reduce or offset your carbon emissions 
  • switch to solar hot water or a heat pump
  • keep chemicals and detergent out of stormwater drains
  • reuse the stormwater from your building and paved areas to wash down vehicles or irrigate
  • use cleaner energy sources such as E10 fuel, hybrid or electric vehicles and GreenPower
  • join our business recycling program and get recycling support.

We’re supporting schools to teach valuable waste management skills that will educate and inspire students and teachers.

Discover more about our waste education programs and how they reduce waste in schools.